Comments on: Tigers ink Rick Porcello, irritate Selig

By: Nolan Hess

Nolan Hess — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:29:26 +0000

aint you my teacher Mr.Figurski

By: Tom H.

Tom H. — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 17:12:19 +0000

Selig irritated? Who the hell cares? I don’t recall that SOB uttering even one word about another team spending 50 milllion just to talk to a Japanese player.

By: Porcello Signs with Tigers

Porcello Signs with Tigers — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 23:23:19 +0000

[...] Billfer at Detroit Tigers Weblog notes that the Tigers have inked first-round pick Rick Porcello. Apparently it’s a Major League contract worth more than $7 million. If nothing else, this reaffirms that Bud Selig’s efforts to “slot” players in the draft have been wasted. [...]

By: Keith G.

Keith G. — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 22:09:55 +0000

Just to change the topic a bit, what’s the over/under on Bondo’s number of runs allowed in the 1st inning tonight? I don’t like these two pitching matchups Sabathia vs. Bonderman and Carmona vs. Jurrgens. Although I’ve never seen Jurrgens pitch, that lineup in that ballpark is about as tough as an assignment that you can give a guy.

By: Mike G

Mike G — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 21:22:41 +0000

Any word on why De La Osa hasnt signed?

Im intrigued by him given how well he hit in a tough conference, but I havent heard anything about his status. I really would like to see him get a chance in our syste.

2 other questions related to the draft:

Anyone notice how well Furbush is doing so far?

Anyone know what little Zumaya’s stuff is? He has decent numbers in Rookie ball so far and hes very very young. Is he anything like his brother?

By: Joel

Joel — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 20:19:24 +0000

Tigers ink Rick Porcello, irritate Selig

I’d call that killing two birds with one stone.

By: Joel

Joel — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 20:08:59 +0000

Dave:

They’re trying to keep Iorg from going back to school, which he’s leaning towards. They need to make it worth his while not to go.

By: Dave Figurski

Dave Figurski — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 20:02:51 +0000

Hooray for the Tigers! I Can’t believe how ridiculous this “slotting” system is. Let’s see. The Red Sox can bid $51 million dollars to speak to a free agent in Japan, then spend another $55 million to sign him, with no guarantees. The Giants can spend $127 million on a pitcher, with no guarantees. Yet when a pitcher comes along that you think might have a higher upside for a longer period of time, it is wrong to invest $11 million on him.
About as brilliant as having an All-Star game determine home field advantage in the playoffs.

By: Tbone

Tbone — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 18:47:11 +0000

It’s great to see the Tigers nail down Porcello, I think it’s a smart move. The slot recommendations essentially give an advantage to the big spending teams anyways. The Yankees and Red Sox could care less about repurcussions from MLB about spending over the slot.

And billfer is right, if the kid pans out at all he’s a bargain at $7 million up front. You have to spend more than that now to get an above average starter on the free market, with no guarantees of continued success.

If we keep feeding the farm with this level of talent, the team can stay good for a long time.

By: Dave T.

Dave T. — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 17:13:28 +0000

Looks like the Tigers signed most of their top picks.
Why does Iorg get 1.5mill? Didn’t he just come back from a mission?

By: Chris in Nashville

Chris in Nashville — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 16:35:49 +0000

I dont’ get this whole slotting thing that Selig keeps talking about. Why would you not take the best player available in the draft? I get signability issues, but why wouldn’t they shoot for an actual slotting system like the NBA has in place? I’m sure the Players Association would want no part of that, and Scott Boras would cry bloody murder, but this whole Bud Selig “frowning” on over slotting is ridiculous.

All that being said, we’ve been the biggest beneficiaries of this flawed system. Our 3 best prospects fell to us because the other teams didn’t want to pay Maybin, Miller and now Porcello. We are going to be at the very least competitive for many years to come because of it.

By: charlie

charlie — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 14:48:16 +0000

i think we should put him in the pen right now…kidding.

By: Mike R

Mike R — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 14:12:44 +0000

And with as advanced as his repertoire apparently is, there shouldn’t be a huge learning curve. Just refining his pitches (changeup specifically) and getting acclimated to the long, grueling season. For a high school kid, he should elevate relatively quickly through the farm system.

By: Matt in Toledo

Matt in Toledo — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:34:44 +0000

With a minor league deal, you get a certain amount of time where you don’t have to be on the 40 man roster, I think it’s four years if you’re 19 or over when you sign and five years if you’re under that age (if that’s not it, it’s close). After that time, you have to be put on the 40 man roster or you’ll be exposed to the Rule 5 draft. Once you’re on the 40 man, you usually get three options, after which you have to clear waivers to be sent back down to the minors.

When you sign a major league deal right away, you start burning those options immediately and you skip the years when you didn’t have to be put on the 40 man roster. Like I hinted earlier, I may have some of the details wrong on this, but that’s the general difference between the two types of contracts.

It doesn’t affect your time with the big league club much; it just affects when you have to be on the big league club.

By: don

don — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:13:52 +0000

I’m still a bit fuzzy on the difference between a major and minor league contract. I get the 40 man roster thing, but what’s this about option years? Does this mean we can only keep him in the minors until 2011, at which point he’d have to clear waivers to be put in the minors?

Either way, I love the pick and the signing. 7.3 million over 4 years is chump change for an MLB club and I’m glad DD and MI aren’t being pennywise here. Close your eyes and envision verlander, bonderman, miller and porcello in 2010, all between 20-27, all striking out 200 with era’s under 3.50. Who can touch that?